Donations to Kidney Research UK – thank you!
A big thank you to everyone at church for your generosity in donating to Kidney Research UK. At the beginning of August, Alison, Mary, Jon and Stephen held a concert at church which raised £344 for the charity. The concert was a wonderful selection of music and a real treat to attend. What talented musicians we have at our church
Then on two successive Saturdays in August Sharon and Mike hosted BBQs at their house for Crowthorne and Sandhurst & Yateley Methodist Churches plus friends from Bagshot too. The BBQs raised an amazing £1000 for the charity and were a great opportunity for food and fellowship. We were blessed with plenty of sunshine at the first one, which was just as well because we had over 50 people turn up so the garden was very much needed. The second Saturday the weather was ‘challenging’. However, with fewer people that day we were able to accommodate indoors all who wanted to shelter from the rain, although a very hardy bunch sat around Mike who was manning the BBQ under the gazebo. I think he really enjoyed the attention and admiration(?!) of his cooking skills as well as the company. Some people who couldn’t attend either the concert or the BBQs still donated to Kidney Research so thank you very much for that.
As a lot of you are aware, the reason for choosing Kidney Research UK is because Sharon and Mike’s granddaughter Harlow (who will be seven this month) is currently on dialysis, awaiting a kidney transplant so we have a particular interest in the charity. In fact, Kidney Research UK has set up the Andy Cole Fund as part of their charity to help people like him who are living with kidney disease. Andy Cole was a famous premier league footballer but kidney disease changed his life. The money raised for this fund goes towards vital research into transplants and finding the best ways to support patients’ mental health and wellbeing. If you are interested in reading Andy’s story, do check out: My story – Kidney Research UK. The money from the BBQs has been allocated to this as it is especially relevant for Harlow as well as many other young patients.
There is a letter of thanks from Kidney Research UK on the wall in the vestibule. And Sharon and Mike thank you once again for your generosity.